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(No Model.)

G. W. PEARSONS. GENTRIFUGAL AMALGAMATING MACHINE.

No. 307,982. Fig.1. z Patented Nov. 11, 1884.

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N. PETERS. Pnuwulno n hw. Washiuglurl. D. c.

GALEN \V. PEARSONS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO B.F. JONES, OF SAME PLACE.

CENTRIFUGAL AMALGAMATlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 307,982, dated November11, 1884.

Application filed July 12, 1884. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GALEN W. PEARSONS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in CentrifugalAmalgamating-Machines, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. My inventionrelates to centrifugal ama gamatingmachines for recovering fine or flourgold from the water of the flume after the heavier or larger particlesof gold have been recovered. v I 5 The object of my invention is toprovide a centrifugal machine for recovering the flour or .float gold,which is now carried away in the muddy water of the washing-flume.

My invention consists of a cone-shaped cylinder secured within an outercylinder and adapted to be rotated with it, said cone-shaped cylinderbeing provided at its apex or lower end with a lifting-wheel or aseriesof vanes adapted to rotate in a trough containing the water from thefiume, by which means the water is raised and brought in contact withamalgamated copper plates secured on the inside of both cylinders, andby the rapid revolution of said cylinders the water is caused to passover the amalgamated plates in a thin sheet, so that the fine particlesor flakes of gold are seized by the mercury of the amalgamated plates.

My invention consists, further, in placing a circular trough a shortdistance below the lower end of the outer cylinder, which will receiveand carry away the water, while at the same time it will catch andretain the gold or other metallic amalgam which may fall or be thrownfrom the amalgamated plates of the cylinder.

Other novel features of my invention will be more fully hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of mydevice. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of my device, taken on the line 00:r of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of one of the amalgamatedcopper plates 5 for lining the main or outer cylinder. Fig. 4 is asimilar view of one of the plates which constitute the lining of thecone-shaped or inner cylinder.

A is a frame-work of any suitable construction, in which is mounted themain drivingshaft, B, adapted to be driven by any. convenient power.

O is a cylinder of any suitable material, preferably of lightwrought-iron, secured to the main driving-shaft by means of the arms D.

E is a funnel or cone shaped cylinder secured inside of the cylinder 0and to the arms D, the two cylinders being rigidly connected and adaptedto be rotated together.

F indicates one of the series of amalgamated 6 5 copper plates withwhich the cylinder 0 is lined.

G indicates one of a series of similar plates for lining the interior orconeshaped cylinder, E.

H are propeller blades or vanes secured to the shaft B in the lower orcontracted end of the inner or cone-shaped cylinder, E, saidpropeller-blades being adapted to be rotated with the cylinders G E. Thelower end of the cone-shaped cylinder E and the propeller blades orvanes are adapted to rotate in a trough, I, through which the wastewater from the tlume passes, and by the rapid rotation of the propellersor vanes and the cylinders the water is drawn from the trough I, carriedup through the cone-shaped cylinder E, and precipita-ted in a thin sheetor film on the inner sides of the cylinder 0. The particles of flour orfree gold coming in contact with the amalgamated plates of the cylindersare seized and amalgamated by the plates.

K is a circular trough secured to the framework of the machine below thecylinder 0, which is designed to receive and carry away the waste water,while at the same time it catches and retains the gold or amalgam whichmay fall from the plates of the cylinder 0.

L is a scattering plate or disk secured to the shaft B directly abovethe lifting-wheel H. 5 The shaft B is made hollow as far down as thescattering wheel or disk L, for the purpose of holding mercury, which ispermitted to pass out through the holes a onto the scattering wheel ordisk L, and thence it is disseminated through the water, picking up theparticles of gold, and finally passing over into the trough K. The diskor wheelL also serves as guard,

to prevent the spray and water from being thrown through the cylinder bythe wheel H. The amalgamated plates F and G are secured to the interiorof the cylinders by means of screws, or in any suitable manner by whichthey can be readily attached and detached for convenience of cleaning.The water containing the flour or fine gold is carried up from thetrough I by the lifting-wheel H, as before stated, leaving the sand andextraneous matter in the trough. The centrifugal action of the rotatingcylinders overcomes the gravity of the particles of gold and causes themto come in contact with and to adhere to the amal gamated plates, 'or tofall as an amalgam into the trough, from whence it is removed andsubjected to the well-known processes used in separating the gold fromthe mercury.

I do not wish to limit myself to any particular size or scale on whichthe cylinders are to be built, or to restrict myself to the number ofrevolutions per minute the machine is to make. I find, however, that amachine having the outer cylinder eight (8) feet in diameter and four(4) feet high, driven-at a velocity of two hundred revolutions perminute, produces good results; or a machine having a cylinder four (4)feet in diameter, driven at a velocity of four hundred revolutions perminute, also produces good results.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 18-"- 1. A centrifugal machine for recovering flouror fine particles of gold from the washingflume, consisting of an outercylinder and a cone-shaped inner cylinder provided with a lifting-wheelsecured to a common shaft, and

0 adapted to be rotated in a trough containing the water from thewashing-flume, as set forth.

2. In a centrifugal machine for recovering the fine or flour gold fromthe washing-flume, a cone-shaped cylinder provided with aliftingwheel atits apex or lower end, adapted to be rotated inthe water of the flume,and an outer cylinder connected to the inner cylinder and to a commondriving-shaft, in combination with amalgamated plates, arranged as described, and a trough for catching and retaining the gold or amalgam, asset forth.

3. In a machine for recovering the fine or flour gold from thewashing-flume, a rotating cylinder lined with amalgamated plates, and aninner cone-shaped cylinder, also lined with amalgamated plates, andprovided with a lifting-wheel adapted to be revolved in the water of theflume, whereby the water, with the flour gold therein, is carried overthe amalgamated plates of the cone-shaped cylinder and depos ited in athin' sheet on amalgamated plates on the interior of the outer cylinder,as set forth. 4. In a centrifugal machine for recovering fine or flourgold from the water of the flume, the hollow shaft B, provided withapertures a, distributing-disk L, and lifting-wheel H, in combinationwith the cylinders E and O and troughs I and K, whereby the mercury isdistributed from the shaft through the water from the flume, as and forthe purpose set forth.

5. In a machine for recovering fine or flour gold from the water ofgold-washing flames, devices, substantially such as described, forraising or lifting the water through a coneshaped cylinder, a hollowdriving-shaft for containing mercury, said shaflz being provided withapertures, as described, and a distributing disk or wheel secured tosaid shaft, where by as the water is being raised from the flame themercury is distributed through the water .and deposited in a trough orother receptacle,

as set forth. I

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GALEN W. PEARSONS.

\Vitnesses:

J AMES GIBSON, L. TRABEB.

